No, Trump’s tariff rise doesn’t damage the Australian–US alliance

(John Coyne and Justin Bassi – ASPI The Strategist) Amid alarm stemming from President Donald Trump’s on-and-off-again tariff rise this week, let’s not lose our ability to distinguish between a mere flesh wound and amputation. The administration’s decision to raise the global baseline tariff from 10 percent to 15 percent, after the Supreme Court ruled against earlier legislative justification, isn’t fatal for the alliance or any of the United States’ close partners, including Australia. Pouring over what the tariffs mean strategically for Australia is folly. Of course, in Canberra the Treasury will assess sectoral exposure and competitiveness, Defence will examine what uncertainty means for industrial timelines and supply-chain integration while ministers will need to publicly defend the alliance and privately negotiate for reduced tariffs. There is, however, no risk to the alliance, to AUKUS nor to any of Australia’s strategic agreements with the US. – No, Trump’s tariff rise doesn’t damage the Australian–US alliance | The Strategist